The Weeklings return, in advance of their new album, with a new, great take on "I’ve Just Seen A Face." I’m always up for a Beatles cover, especially if it reinvents the song, which happens here.

Rocky Weekling (John Merjave), lead guitarist of The Weeklings, was kind enough to answer a few questions for me.

Andrea Weiss: Why did you cover this particular Beatles song?

Rocky Weekling: Rubber Soul is one of our favorite albums. And, yes, we know "IJSAF" was on Help! in the UK. but growing up in the States in the 60s and 70s, that's how the US version of RS opens. When approaching the Beatles' music, we always feel a bit hesitant trying to re-imagine a Beatles classic, especially knowing how beloved the catalog is. But Lefty (Glen Burtnik) had an idea to change it up a little - to come in with a drum loop, start with the verse instead of the little guitar interlude that's on the original, and rock it up a bit. He changed the overall feel of it from a country two-step to a straight-ahead driving rock groove, so it really changes the vibe of the tune. From there, all four of us just cobbled away in the studio, but most of the interesting bits, including that nice vocal-in-the-round near the end, came from Lefty.

AW: Will this be on your upcoming album?

RW: Most definitely. In fact, we're working on the new album right now!

AW: Will there be more singles released from it?

RW: That’s the plan. We want to get new music out every few months and lead up to the new album. It's the way of the music industry at the moment, very singles driven.

AW: Do you feel this is a good introduction for people new to the band? Is it a good lead-in for young people just discovering the Beatles?

RW: The way things are nowadays, with the amount of music that's being created, from both signed acts and independent ones, anything that can get you noticed is a major plus. If someone is a Beatles fan and sees our version of "IJSAF," they might say, "What is THIS?" After that, their ears will have to judge it. Hopefully they'll like it and dig deeper into our catalog (it's all out there on all the streaming services).  As for the younger audience who is just now discovering The Beatles, it's hard to say. As long as it's out there - a new version with a brand new 2023 release date stamped on it - they might be a little more curious and click on it.

 ’ve Just Seen A Face (Single)

The Weeklings

Jem Records

To make this Beatles classic move from folk/country rock to something hard charging, psychedelic, and a real rush musically, took daring, but that’s what great about power pop. It can make the old new again. If you are a Beatles fan, you will enjoy this, even if it might take a bit of adjusting, but if the Beatles are new to you, or you’ve heard a bit, or just heard of them, this is a good way in. Originally this was on the US version of Rubber Soul, which is another way into this band; in the UK it was on Help!. But any way you want it, this song is the way to go. So, happy listening to new or old fans.

Andrea Weiss

 The Plus 4

You Look Right Through Me (Single)

Self Released

The song is about unrequited love, and the music is halfway between early Byrds and the Beatles' "Ticket To Ride." It’s easy to feel for the main character, hope that he’ll get the lady, and wonder why she isn’t she noticing him. The music is fun. If you love "Ticket To Ride" as much as I do, go seek this band out. They're really good.

Andrea Weiss

 R. Ring

War Poems, We Rested

Don Giovanni Records

The second album from the duo of Kelley Deal and Mike Montgomery, while different from their 2017debut Ignite The Rest, compliments that album perfectly. Each album is distinct and great.

Their first comprised songs they’d had from their start in 2012, up to 2016. This album is all new songs, and with a drummer throughout, Laura King, who is very good. They also stretch their sound:“Def Sup” is very playful and danceable, “Hug” is more or less self explanatory, as in giving people hugs, "Still Life" is anti-substance abuse, Mike’s song “Likable” is very much so. The way the songs flow into each other is worth the price of admission alone.

Kelley’s songs mostly are rough and somewhat raw, the way they were on Ignite.  Mike’s are more ethereal. All are good, and, again, compliment  Ignite, but stand on their own wonderfully.

This album was recorded in 2019. Everything they did worked, and the album is worth the wait. If you’re looking for some different, terrific experimental music, this is an album to get. I think you will think it worth the wait too.

Andrea Weiss

 Tim Reisert

Viewfinder

Sofaburn Records

Reisert’s debut for Sofaburn Records is spare, stark, but not necessarily dark indie folk. Tim plays every instrument except for Steve Bleh’s mandolin on "Tulip Tree."

The lyrics speak of solitude, of quiet, thoughtful times, with weathered, wizened singing set to equally quiet music, which looks forward and back at the same time, all of which suits the songs to a tee.

Such contemplative music is perfect for quiet times, maybe a rainy day, to sit around and think, which makes it a great album. It's gentle, but not soft, tough, but tender, empathetic, and made to listen to not just alone, but in small groups. Tell people how good it is, play it for them, and hopefully get them to buy it for themselves.

Andrea Weiss

 R. Ring

Hug (Official Video)

Don Giovanni Records

The video is nicely humorous and darkly satirical. Falling apples never looked so menacing, as do shaking skeletons and other cut and pasted figures and objects in a really wonderful collage by Alex Leonard of Protomartyr and Amanda Shepard.

The song is too, and more or less self explanatory about giving someone a hug. It’s from this band’s excellent new album, War Poems, We Rested, and “Hug” is one of the best songs on it. It’s sung by Kelley Deal. She, Mike Montgomery and Laura King play great. So watch it, have some fun, and then pick up their album.

Andrea Weiss

 Here is my 2022 Top Un-Ten. Why is mine different? Because it’s damn hard to be successful at music, or any type of art, and people should be recognized for that, and because it's hard to rank my favorites. This is what I listened to this past year. Some I liked better than others, but it’s all good. All of it. My list is mostly albums, with a favorite song or two listed for each. A few songs are just singles.

Enjoy! I look forward to what 2023 has in store musically, as well.

#1

Amoeba Teen - Amoeba Teen - "New Material World"

The Bye Bye Blackbirds - August Lightning Complex - "We Got Lost"

"Fold Up Your Maps/The Girls Walk" single

Jim Basnight - Pop Top - "Hello Mary Jane"

Early Years - "Blow Your Life Away"

The Loud Family and Anton Barbeau - What If It Works? (reissue) - "Mavis Of Maybelline Towers"

Nick Piunti & The Complicated Men - Heart Inside Your Head - "One of the Boyz"

Frontperson - Parade - Parade

Lisa Mychols & Super 8 - Jem Records Celebrates Pete Townshend (comp)- "Baba O’Riley"

"Santa Please" single

Vista Blue - Stay Gold - "Cherry"

Push Puppets - Allegory Grey - "There’s No One Else Like Lynette"

Chris Church - Darling Please - "We’re Going Downtown"

The Flashcubes - "Tomorrow Night" (featuring Shoes) single

"Gudbuy T'Jane" (featuring Steve Conte) single

The Incurables - "Stop The World" Ukraine Benefit Single

Walker Brigade - If Only - "Choker," "Fallout"

In Deed - Twenty​-​Two Tracks From 2022 (comp) - "Don’t Kill The Babe

Tony Valentino - "Sometimes Good Guys Don’t Wear White" single

Various Artists - We All Shine On: Celebrating The Music Of 1970 (comp) - All of them. All of these covers are great, and all the originals were AM gold in 1970, too.

Michael Simmons - Happy Traum EP - "Surely Justice"

Librarians with Hickeys - Handclaps & Tambourines - "Ghost Singer"

Richard Örhn - Sounds In English - "Take This Bottle"

Popular Creeps - All Of This Will End In Tears - "Gone by 45"

beabadoobee - Beatopia - "Talk"

Momma - Household Name - "Speeding 72"

The Airport 77’s - We Realize You Have a Choice - "Losers Win"

Courtney Barnett - Things Take Time, Take Time - "Write a List of Things to Look Forward To"

The Beths - Expert In A Dying Field - "Expert In A Dying Field"

Alvvays - Blue Rev - "Easy On Your Own?"

The Big Believe - "Pirate Radio" single

Speed Of Sound - "Virtual Reality 123/Charlotte" 12" single

#2

Old Town Crier - You - "You"

Lannie Flowers - Flavor Of The Month - "Summer Blue"

Anton Barbeau - Power Pop!!! - "Julian Cope"

The Bablers - "Holding Me Tight Tonight" single

Spygenius - Jabbernowl - "Son Of the Morning, Go Man Go!"

Maple Mars - Someone's Got To Listen - "Gliding"

Nick Frater - Aerodrome Motel - "Stuck In My Ways," "Dancing With A Gertude"

Danny Wilkerson - "Strawberry Sherry" single